Molokov smiled at her, pleased to hear that she had been waiting. She was a smart, clever girl, really. It was a pity she'd married a man so difficult to handle as Sergievsky. Genius he might be, she could have much better.

He strode into the room as if it were his own, then sat down in the most comfortable chair, not bothering to wait for an invitation. "Please, Svetlana. Sit. We have much to discuss."